Chapter 39

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 39

Chapter Title: The Count's Circumstances (9)

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"I heard some weird noises last night."

"Did you? I didn't hear anything."

I replied calmly while clearing my hoarse throat. I'd been screaming my lungs out all night, so my voice was in rough shape. I coughed discreetly, but sharp-eared Vincent immediately turned to look at me. Pretending I hadn't noticed, I poured water into an empty cup and handed it to him.

As he took the cup, a puzzled expression crossed his face. Then Lucas suddenly thrust out his own empty cup. He'd barged in this morning, whining about not wanting to eat alone, and now we were having breakfast together.

"Paula, give me some too."

"......"

I poured the water without even glancing at his face. He said thanks, but I ignored that too. Lucas gave an awkward laugh.

The tense atmosphere lingered afterward. The only sounds in the room were the clinking of utensils, and an uncomfortable air hung heavy. Vincent must have sensed it too, because he furrowed his brow.

"Did something happen?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Between you two."

"Nothing happened."

Absolutely nothing. I emphasized each word, and Vincent fell silent. Lucas quietly sipped his water. I bustled about noisily stacking the empty plates.

As I left the room, Lucas followed behind me. I still refused to look at him.

"You're really mad."

"......"

"Sorry for locking the door. I got scared after messing up."

"......"

"Paula."

"......"

No matter how many times he called, I didn't respond, and his footsteps finally stopped. My own echoed through the quiet hallway. I stared straight ahead and quickened my pace. I was that furious.

You bastard. Rotten jerk. How could he toss out words like that as a joke? I'd been so shocked my breath caught and my mind went blank.

In that moment, he really seemed serious. That terrified me. I never knew someone's true feelings could be so frightening. So when he said it was a joke, my head went numb. Honestly, I was relieved. It's a lie, just a joke. But separate from the relief, I was angry.

Lucas kept trailing me, begging for forgiveness. I ignored him consistently. I could tell he was watching my mood, desperate to make me feel better, but this time I wouldn't give in. That was the strongest way I could express it. I couldn't curse him out or slap him. Deep down, I wanted to scream "you bastard" and yank his hair.

So be grateful for that.

But even thinking it over again...

"That was way too much."

Anger gripped my hand, crumpling the paper. I gritted my teeth.

"No, there's a limit to treating people like fools. What? A joke? Do you think jokes that unfunny are funny?!"

I huffed and spat curses before snapping back to reality. I took a deep breath and read the text in front of me. It was a scene where a companion traveling with the protagonist was talking.

[Don't do that. I can't let you sacrifice yourself.]

[I'll do anything for you.]

"No, who are you to sacrifice yourself?!"

Are you that great? Huh? Rage surged again. I wanted to yell how amazing he thought he was, then clenched my teeth. The paper crumpled so badly I could barely read it.

"The Master thinks so too, right? It's just too much, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about?"

Vincent, who had been listening as usual to me read the book aloud, scowled. I didn't back down. I slammed the table and railed against the protagonist's companion's reckless attitude. He doesn't think about the people around him at all, I said. Vincent looked at me like I was crazy.

A joke? Fine, a joke! Let's see how far this joke goes, you bastard! Ethan's brother, huh? Now I see the family resemblance. Perfect at pissing people off.

I slammed the table again. Thud thud thud! Pain shot through my hand, but my anger didn't subside.

"Enough."

He wrapped his hand around my fist to stop me. I panted heavily. Slowly, sanity returned. Embarrassment filled my clearing mind. I tried to pull my hand away, but Vincent gripped it tighter.

"What happened with Lucas?"

"Nothing."

I answered firmly, but he was already suspicious. His sharp gaze pierced me. I rolled my eyes away to avoid it.

"Something a bit upsetting happened."

"What?"

"It's nothing."

"Tell me."

I stubbornly kept my mouth shut, and Vincent sighed. I still didn't want to say it. Those words were too vile to repeat. They weren't something he'd want to hear either.

'I'll give it to your brother. My world.'

Even if it was a joke, how could he say that?

"I don't know what it is, but let it go."

"If it's an order."

"I'm saying it for your sake."

He unfolded my clenched hand. Then he gently massaged it. He focused on one spot, which was red. His finger brushed over it.

"It'll bruise."

"It's not that bad."

"It's fine to get angry, fine to hit something, but don't hurt yourself."

"Can I really hit something?"

"Go ahead. I permit it."

Tempting offer. Oh ho, really?

"For real?"

"Yes. Consider it my command if you want."

"Then lend me something to use."

"Something?"

"A cane."

My eyes locked on the cane he'd once swung at Ethan. The window had shattered, but the cane was mostly intact aside from a few scratches.

I'd been eyeing it for a while. When I glanced at it and mentioned it, Vincent chuckled. He seemed to understand why I wanted the cane.

"As many as you like."

And so I borrowed the cane from him. I tucked it into my waistband and walked around. Whenever anger flared, I'd fiddle with it or swing it secretly. The whooshing sound as it sliced the air was quite satisfying.

Not bad at all?

I went to a wider space and swung it again. Oh, impressive. I swung it once more. I could kind of understand why Vincent wielded it. Satisfied with the excellent choice, I pictured the faces of people who'd annoyed me before. I swung and struck. They winced in pain. Imaginary, but it felt good.

Before I knew it, I was spinning around, fully focused. As I swung to the side, something suddenly popped up in front of me. I gasped in surprise and stumbled back. The other person froze with hands raised. Something fluttered to the floor between us.

"Please spare me."

"Ah, no. Sorry."

I panicked and lowered the cane immediately. Lucas backed away hesitantly. Then he clutched his chest and let out a relieved breath. His eyes quickly scanned the cane in my hand.

"What are you doing here? What's that?"

"Nothing."

"Were you going to hit me with that?"

"......"

Silence made Lucas's face harden. He continued calmly with a serious expression.

"I'm sorry. I mean it. Spare me."

"If you knew that, why did you say it?"

"......"

"I hate lies like that."

Forgotten anger boiled up. I was angrier that he'd so casually joked about his own death than the joke itself.

It was a world where some desperately wanted to live but couldn't. At least around me, life was like that. I'd seen so much death; I didn't want to treat any of it lightly. It was too much for noble wordplay. And the reason behind it wasn't something I could easily overlook.

Of course, I didn't want it to be sincere either, but still, that wasn't okay.

"You're right about everything, Paula. No excuses. I must have gone mad for a moment. I did something terrible to Vincent—my brother—and the guilt was overwhelming... I was racking my brain on how to help him, and that thought slipped out. It wasn't meant for you, but it came out anyway. I panicked and tried to brush it off, and... I'm really sorry. It was a mistake. I sincerely apologize."

"......"

"Forgive me."

He suddenly extended his hand. Was he offering a handshake of apology? As I hesitated, he seemed more flustered. Lucas quickly glanced around, then bent down. A bouquet of flowers had fallen at his feet. That must have been what fluttered down earlier.

"I'm sorry."

He held out the white bouquet and bowed deeply. They were the flowers from that mystical forest glade we'd visited before—the ones I'd said I loved several times. His clothes still had petals on them, so he'd probably just picked them.

I glared at his head bowed toward the floor while fiddling with the cane in my hand. Hit him? Don't? Take it or not? I wavered briefly but ended with a sigh. I already knew he was sincerely apologizing.

"Don't joke about death. Ever."

"I won't."

He answered right away.

"And don't say things like that."

"Thank you for forgiving me."

"I haven't forgiven you."

To be precise, I'll see for now.

I stabbed the cane into the floor right next to his hand. He peeked up. I smirked and added that the Master had given permission. I didn't specify for what, but sensing the danger, Lucas nodded vigorously.

He wouldn't straighten up until I took the bouquet. If I left him, he'd probably drop to his knees. Fine by me, but if the other servants saw, rumors would spread.

In the end, I took the bouquet, and he thanked me profusely as he stood straight. I shrugged.

"I was worried you wouldn't forgive me."

"Were you planning to keep this up?"

"Yeah. I was going to follow you around begging until you did."

That sounded a bit scary. If I'd kept ignoring him, would he have shaken me awake in bed to beg?

"So I'm glad. I want to look good to you, Paula."

"To me? Why?"

"Because I like you."

I was briefly startled by his words but quickly regained composure. I don't believe it anymore. I laughed it off, but he didn't stop.

"I like you, Paula."

"Yeah, yeah."

"This is serious."

"I'm honored."

I replied nonchalantly while examining the bouquet. Suddenly, my shoulders were grabbed, my body pulled forward, and something soft touched my cheek. It really touched.

Something plush.

"Eek!"

I freaked out and fled. Rubbing my cheek, I turned back to see Lucas beaming at me. His face was so carefree.

"I said I was serious."

He really was a man I couldn't let my guard down around until the very end.